A Method for µCT Based Assessment of Root Canal Instrumentation in Endodontics Research

The field of endodontics is devoted to the study and treatment of tissues inside (endo) the tooth (dontia). When a nerve within a tooth becomes necrotic andor infected, socalled root canal therapy might be considered. In this case, a dental practitioner cleans and widens the inner root canal system by chemical irrigation and mechanical instrumentation with respect to the original canal morphology (see Figure I) . The success of this dental therapy largely depends on the safety and effectiveness thorough cleaning and proper shaping of the techniques employed for mechanical instrumentation (e.g. NiTi rotary files).